As any other professional field, project management is full of challenges that are rarely covered in theory. Many of them become obvious only in practice. To complete a project successfully, it’s important not only to have the right tools, but also to be able to adapt quickly and know how to overcome these challenges.

Project management remains complex even for seasoned professionals. Why? Because there are so many moving parts — limited time, tight budgets, unexpected changes from stakeholders, team dynamics, and more. And even though we now have access to modern tools powered by AI, well-defined methodologies, proven techniques, excellent training programs, and certifications, the challenges haven’t disappeared.

Every project manager faces challenges. We've gathered the 9 most common ones to break them down, and help you overcome them.

Communication is the #1 priority in project management. Our team even wrote an article on 7 effective communication strategies — that's how seriously we take it. So why is it still so hard?

PM courses put a strong focus on communication. You’re taught to use the right channels, ask the right questions, and give clear regular updates. But once you’re on a real project, things get more complicated.

New PMs, for example, often struggle with understanding when and what kind of updates to provide. They might overshare irrelevant details or, on the flip side, keep stakeholders in the dark for too long. They’re unsure how to balance transparency with clarity.

Experienced PMs, on the other hand, can fall into a different trap — overcommunicating to the point of micromanagement, crowding team members with constant pings, check-ins, and unnecessary status reports. Some may dominate conversations, unintentionally silencing the voices of quieter team members.

These issues can hurt the project more than they seem. Misaligned expectations, frustration, lack of trust, duplicated efforts — all of these grow from poor communication and can eventually derail timelines and demotivate your team.

What helps: Set clear expectations early and define who needs to know what, when, and through which channel. Use regular check-ins wisely and create space for honest feedback. Sometimes, good communication is less about saying more, and more about listening at the right time.

In the race to meet deadlines, manage risks, and stay within budget, project managers often put the team last. This doesn’t mean the team isn’t important, far from it. The point is that sometimes PMs forget they’re not just managing a project, they’re leading a group of people. They’re the team’s guide and mediator.

Even though team members share updates about their work, PMs shouldn’t underestimate the value of small talk — getting to know people personally, understanding their strengths, mindset, and personality. This goes beyond productivity and project outcomes and means creating a sense of calm and trust within the team.

How to fix it: Make time for regular, informal check-ins beyond project tasks. Also encourage open conversations and get curious about your team as individuals.

Another one of the most common challenges in project management is misalignment between stakeholders. Different departments, clients, executives, and end users often come into a project with different goals, priorities, and expectations.

Stakeholder misalignment often shows up subtly at first: vague feedback, shifting priorities, unclear definitions of success. But over time, it can turn into bigger issues.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming “everyone’s on the same page” after one kickoff call or a signed scope document. But in reality, alignment is something that needs to be checked and reinforced regularly.

How a project manager can handle it: Start by making sure stakeholder goals are visible, shared, and prioritized. Use discovery workshops, stakeholder maps, or even short alignment sessions throughout the project to re-sync. And don’t underestimate the value of asking clarifying questions early and often.

Project management often doesn’t fit neatly into a fixed working hours schedule. More often than not, PMs find themselves working late into the night or stuck in back-to-back meetings with barely a moment to breathe.

At first, it might feel manageable and even exciting. But over time, that constant state of availability leads to exhaustion. What once felt like a driven pace turns into chronic fatigue, irritability, or even emotional shutdown. PMs may begin to question their career choice, experience decision fatigue, or find it hard to motivate themselves or their teams.

What you can do about it: Let’s be honest, constant meetings, updates, messages are part of the project manager’s job. What’s important is that you can give yourself permission to pause. Even a short walk or dinner without your laptop can help reset your mind.

Another way to fight stress and burnout is to create a support space within your company, like a casual chat group or regular calls without formal updates, just a chance to connect. If that’s not possible, try finding fellow PMs on online communities.

This challenge is very similar to the previous one, but here we will focus on the emotional component of project managers’ path. Because a big part of being a PM is balancing different people’s needs like being the emotional anchor for everyone involved.

Project managers are expected to stay positive, calm, encouraging, and endlessly solution-oriented. In the team, project managers are the one who smooths over tensions, keeps people motivated, and translates frustration into action plans, even when they're running low on energy themselves. It really takes a lot of emotional energy.

How to deal with it: Don’t hesitate to ask for support if you’re feeling depleted. It may be a psychological consultation, seeking mentorship, or even just stepping back for a day.

Risks are everywhere and project managers know it better than anyone. No matter how well you plan, even the most detailed project scheme can start to fall apart because of shifting priorities, team changes, or sudden technical issues. The list goes on.

Project managers are constantly trying to stay one step ahead and it causes a real challenge for their mental health. When a project manager starts thinking through every possible “what if,” it gets overwhelming fast.

A simple fix: Instead of trying to predict every single thing and step that could go wrong, focus on the top 3–5 risks for your project. Keep your risk log up to date, and talk about risks regularly with your team. Thus you’ll be more prepared to act when something comes up.

Budgeting is one of the biggest challenges for PMs, especially on large, long-term projects. Sometimes the team needs more resources or time than originally planned, and it’s tough to explain to the client why the budget has to increase.

What makes it harder is that clients expect you to keep things under control, but in reality, there’s always something new that demands extra funds, whether it’s extra testing, last-minute features, or delays beyond your control.

What to do: As a project manager, keep a close eye on your budget from day one. Track expenses regularly and communicate openly with the client about risks and changes. Build some buffer into your budget to handle surprises without panic.

Unrealistic deadlines are also one of the most common challenges project managers face. Often, deadlines are set without fully considering the actual workload or the team’s resources. For project managers explaining to clients why meeting tight deadlines isn’t possible can be tough, especially when those deadlines come from higher up.

The decision: To handle this, it’s important to honestly and realistically assess tasks during the planning stage. Don’t be afraid to discuss deadlines openly with clients and your team, and suggest alternative timelines or phased deliveries. If deadlines get tighter during the project, speak up early and work together to find solutions.

Project management, at its core, is about working with people (their capabilities and emotions) as well as managing budgets, deadlines, risks, and client expectations. No amount of training can fully prepare you for all of this. And that’s what makes this role not only challenging but also exciting, dynamic, and rewarding for those eager to become great project managers.

Like any other field, project management comes with challenges that can threaten a project’s success. But the good news is that all these issues can be solved. Even better, with each challenge you gain experience, becoming more confident and resourceful along the way.